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2013 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Ritchie Vineyard
Like the 2012, this 2013 vintage is a deep, structured SB that will improve for years. Powerful, bursting with flavor and possessing amazing weight, this a not a light, fluffy wine. It grabs you and pulls you in.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 90 Drink: 2014 – 2019
From a well-known site for Chardonnay, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard comes from an unknown clone of Sauvignon Blanc and is given the same treatment as the Kick Vineyard offering – 25% new French oak, 25% neutral French oak and 50% stainless steel. The nose offers up scents of honeyed melons and grapefruit as well as tart acids and lots of minerality. Enjoy this beauty over the next 4-5 years.
The brilliant Russell Bevan has proven he can make just as compelling Pinot Noirs, Sauvignon Blancs, Syrahs and Chardonnays in Sonoma as he does in Napa with Bordeaux varietals. This is a remarkable lineup of wines from some amazing vineyard sites. I tasted six Pinot Noir cuvées, every one of them stunning. Is Russell Bevan The Wine Advocate’s winemaker of the year?
2013 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Kick Ranch
The 2013 Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, is our tried and true stalwart. Like past vintages, this wine pushes amazing tropical fruit aromatics while providing super-clean pure flavors. This wine delivers incredibly consistent flavors regardless of the vintage, and our 2013 is actually more exuberant than previous years.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 92 Drink: 2014 – 2018
The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Kick Vineyard was made with the Musqué clone. It displays more exotic, tropical fruit notes as well as honeydew melons in a medium-bodied, fresh, ripe, stunningly proportioned style. It sees one-fourth new French oak and the rest primarily stainless steel and older barrels. Drink now-2018.
2013 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Stack Vineyard
Having made this wine for Dry Stack in the past, we knew it might be the most special Sauvignon Blanc in Sonoma County. The 2013 has blown our minds from the day it arrived at the winery. Explosive guava and pineapple drive this decadent wine from the second you pull the cork. It is the showiest Sauvignon Blanc we have ever made.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95 Drink: 2014 – 2020
Bevan fashions three Sauvignon Blancs, one of which rivals the finest Sauvignon Blancs made in California. The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Vineyard was aged in stainless steel (75%) and in new François Frères barrels (25%). Its clonal material is unknown, but it is a special site, and just over 1,000 cases were produced. One of the most prodigious Sauvignon Blancs I have tasted from anywhere, it offers up notes of beeswax, honeysuckle, caramelized grapefruit and hints of pineapple as well as spice. With fabulous intensity, terrific acidity, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and super length, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years, perhaps longer.
2013 Bevan Cellars Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard
The 2013 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is a red-wine-drinkers Chardonnay. It has an expansive mid-palate texture that you normally only get in red wines, but the flavors are pure Chardonnay. It starts with orange blossoms, but quickly turns to white peaches and an intense minerality. The finish is long and lively as the acidity keeps the wine alive on the tongue.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 94 Drink: 2014 – 2024
The 2013 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard comes from the Old Wente clone of Chardonnay. It exhibits lots of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, white peach and wet stone characteristics along with terrific intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish. There are 250 cases of this lovely white wine that should age easily for up to a decade.
The brilliant Russell Bevan has proven he can make just as compelling Pinot Noirs, Sauvignon Blancs, Syrahs and Chardonnays in Sonoma as he does in Napa with Bordeaux varietals. This is a remarkable lineup of wines from some amazing vineyard sites. I tasted six Pinot Noir cuvées, every one of them stunning. Is Russell Bevan The Wine Advocate’s winemaker of the year?
2013 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
The 2013 Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir is similar to the 2012, but it has a fresh acidity, a quality that is expressed in most of our 2013 wines. It has amazing polish for such a young, mouth-filling wine. The flavors go towards plum and cherry, while the finish pushes exotic spice qualities.
2013 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ‘1376
2013 Elevation 1376 is all about the fruit. Pure fruit — raspberry, boysenberry and strawberry — explode from this wine. This vineyard, with its steep, rocky hillside, always gives us a loud voice to work with.
2013 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Summit ‘2114
The Summit 2114 Pinot Noir was stunning in barrel, so we bottled it early to protect its vibrancy. A month after bottling, we opened our first bottle. It was muted, lacked energy, and I was just crushed. What the…??? Where was the intense blueberry flavor? Then one day, Victoria asked me to try another bottle. Whoa! It just blew me away. All the floral, rose petal and rich fruit qualities were back! It was once again the beautiful, sophisticated wine that I so adored in barrel.
2013 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Desmond Vineyard “Black Eye Bill”
Black Eye Bill. Much like the man who farms this vineyard, this wine is 100% true to what it is. Pure Russian River, with red fruit, cola and Asian spices coming at you in waves. Rare for a Pinot Noir, this wine wants to see a hunk of meat on a plate next to it. The weight and concentration scream Rib Eye.
2013 Bevan Cellars Syrah, Moaveni Vineyard
2013 Bevan Cellars Red Wine “Ontogeny”
Ontogeny is a combination of all of the vineyards that have gone into the previous wines, so it has an amazing pedigree, but making sure that they all come together and find their harmony is the challenge. It is not as tannic as the 2012, but has considerably more aromatics at the same stage. The 2013 is an obvious sibling and will be delicious on release.
2013 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Two Dog Vineyard
The Two Dog Knoll Vineyard, which has a special place in our heart as our one site on the western side of Oakville. It is cradled by Heitz’s Martha’s Vineyard on the north, Vine Hill Ranch on the south and Harlan above. Every year this vineyard is blended into almost everything we make and it always makes them better. In 2013 we knew it was time to put a little aside and show it off to everyone else. The wine has a fair amount of Petite Verdot, which gives it a core of blueberries and mulberry. In the mouth it has the tannins that you would expect, but a drop of Merlot rounds it out and gives it a chocolaty kiss that makes the fruit sing.
2013 Bevan Cellars Red Wine “EE”
This year “EE” carries the Tench Vineyard designate. We have taken a special block, 2A, which has an incredible red, rocky soil and I have used it as the anchor. In a lineup of past vintages, this wine most resembles the 2008. It has amazing intensity without any hard edges. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives it a core of red and blue fruits, while the Franc provides backbone, and floral and tobacco aromatics.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 94 Drink: 2014 – 2030
The 2013 Proprietary Red EE, a 400-case blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, exhibits fabulous floral notes intermixed with blueberries, blackberries, lead pencil shavings and loamy soil. Full-bodied and opulent with terrific focus and purity, it should drink well for 15+ years.
As I wrote last year, Russell Bevan and his partner, Victoria de Cresenzo, are turning out truly mind-blowing, big, rich, majestic wines. Bevan Cellars has hit the bull’s eye with a bevy of incredible efforts that showcases fabulous vineyard sources. Many of these have not been exploited by others. A warning though – these are super-rich, dense, powerful, massive wines. While the tannins are elevated, they are silky and well-integrated, and the wines are neither heavy nor overbearing. Nor is Bevan afraid of alcohol, but he never goes over-the-top.
2013 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red Wine, De Crescenzo / Tench “The Impetus”
The Impetus is our darkest wine, in flavor, color and texture, and is our best Impetus to date. Tench Cabernet Sauvignon provides us with our base of blackberry, cherry and plum, while our De Crescenzo Cabernet Franc provides intensity and depth. In 2013 the Cabernet Franc fermentation filled the winery with violet and lavender aromatics, but below was a dark, brooding beast. You could smell it when you walked up to do a punch down and would smile from ear to ear with anticipation. Then you would get up on the ladder, look down and get nervous. If you fell in no one would see you, it was such a black pit. Next, you would smell the cigar and a hint of leather that warned you to take it seriously. The combination of the two components, in a blend that is almost identical to the EE, is brasher than its sibling, and while it lacks EE’s refinement, it has considerably more swagger.
2013 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Harbison Vineyard
The Harbison in 2013 is a silky, seductive wine that hits in powerful waves of flavors and aromatics. The block we use for this wine is so incredibly even, every plant is identical to its siblings and the wine tastes like it, with everything in balance.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. (96-100) Drink: 2016 – 2035
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard exhibits phenomenal intensity and precision as well as oodles of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit intertwined with licorice, coffee bean, chocolate and truffle. This is an amazing full-bodied, multidimensional wine. Drink 2016-2035.
2013 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Tin Box Vineyard
It is a very old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard and we only take the fruit from around 60% of the plants. Every year we talk about replanting it, and every year the wine is so good we keep her going. The old vines give us a great acid profile with dark fruit, verve and amazing complexity that makes this the most singular Cabernet that we make.
2013 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, McGah Vineyard
The McGah’s textures are incredibly similar, but the fruit profile here is red cherry, with a hint of stone fruit, giving it the most exotic aromatic profile of our pure Cabernet Sauvignons.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. (96-100) Drink: 2018 – 2035
Another potentially perfect effort is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah (200 cases produced). This wine exhibits a powerful black fruit spectrum, huge body and tremendous richness, texture, power and length. Purity and balance are also hallmarks of this prodigious wine. Drink 2018-2035.
2013 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block
The Wildfoote is always perfectly behaved and impeccably balanced with deep, dark fruit flavors and luxurious textures.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. (98-100) Drink: 2014 – 2036
A potentially perfect wine, the full-throttle 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote (250 cases produced) reveals great intensity along with spring flower, red and blue fruit characteristics. It is a super-rich 2013 to drink over the next 16-22 years.
2013 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Tench Vineyard
The 2013 Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a cane-pruned block (note that these vineyards are adjacent) that we treat differently. We almost dry farm it and are aggressive with the canopy management, and it shows.
Having been huge fans of the amazing Chardonnays from the Ritchie Vineyard, we had to jump at the chance to work with the 40-plus year old Sauvignon, which is grown on its fluffy volcanic soils.
2012 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Tench Vineyard
The Tench Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc gave us the opportunity to work with our third varietal from the vineyard and our first Napa County white wine. Only 50 cases were produced. While our Sonoma County Sauvignon Blancs show citrus and tropical flavors, this wine has the stone fruit qualities that are particular to Oakville Sauvignon Blancs.
2012 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Kick Ranch
In 2012 we produced our traditional Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, which turned out to be the most intense Sauvignon Blanc we have made from this special site. In addition, we made small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc from both the Ritchie and Tench Vineyards. Having been huge fans of the amazing Chardonnays from the Ritchie Vineyard, we had to jump at the chance to work with the 40-plus year old Sauvignon, which is grown on its fluffy volcanic soils.
2012 Bevan Cellars Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard
The Bevan Cellars 2012 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is a massive wine. Massive Chardonnay? Did I say that? Yes, I did. Coming exclusively from the old vine, steep portion of the Ritchie Vineyard, made up entirely of the Old Wente clone of Chardonnay, this is spectacular fruit. The nose offers waves of Meyer lemon, followed by quince, peach and honeysuckle. An oily, super-rich mid palate eventually gives way to lively acidity. Luscious and vibrant, the wine stays on the palate for over a minute.
2012 Bevan Cellars Chardonnay, Summit 1376’
From Sonoma Mountain at the top of the Petaluma Gap. This super steep vineyard is rocky and faces the Pacific Ocean, which gives it a blast of cool, afternoon air every day. This gives the grapes almost 20 additional days of slow ripening, which creates a purer fruit with the acidity to keep the finish going on and on.
2012 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Desmond Vineyard Russian River Valley “Black Eye Bill”
Velvety, polished, sexy, these are the qualities that I like in Russian River Pinot Noir. Bright red fruits, burst out of the glass, telling you to bring it to your lips, this wine is a naughty mistress. The purity of fruit and plush textures are what make this wine special, it is a giving wine that has cherry and raspberry flavors that live in a 60 second finish. As it opens up traditional aromatic scents of tea and spice develop complimenting its vibrant fruit core.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 92 Drink: 2014 – 2024
Another tightly-knit, more Côte de Beaune-styled effort is the 2012 Pinot Noir Black Eye Bill, which is made from a Dijon clonal mix. It was aged in a combination of Darnajou and Taransaud barrels, which give it a different character than wines aged in François Frères or Gamba oak. Medium-bodied with notes of kirsch and loamy soil, this spicy Pinot should drink well for a decade.
The brilliant Russell Bevan has proven he can make just as compelling Pinot Noirs, Sauvignon Blancs, Syrahs and Chardonnays in Sonoma as he does in Napa with Bordeaux varietals. This is a remarkable lineup of wines from some amazing vineyard sites. I tasted six Pinot Noir cuvées, every one of them stunning. Is Russell Bevan The Wine Advocate’s winemaker of the year?
Wine Spectator November 15th, 2014
James Laube 93
Full-bodied, with rich, deep layers of dark and red berry fruit, black licorice, mocha and vanilla followed by a long, persistent finish that keeps the flavors fresh and vibrant. Drink now through 2022. 255 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
The fruit comes from the famous Gap’s Crown Vineyard — I would encourage you to open our wine next to any other Gap’s Pinot you may have in your cellar. Not just rich, it is massive, but never hard. Its deep, dark fruit comes at you in waves of plush textures. This is a statement wine.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 94 Drink: 2014 – 2024
The 2012 Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap, made from Dijon clones 777 and 115, exhibits a Burgundian, Côte de Nuits-like character with plenty of forest floor, Asian plum sauce, raspberry and black cherry notes, a full-bodied, intense, pure mouthfeel, stunning purity, and admirable integration of acidity, wood and tannin. A bigger-than-life Pinot Noir (much like Russell Bevan himself), it should drink nicely for a decade.
2012 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Sonoma Mountain
Going up the west side of Sonoma Mountain you will find two vineyards that we sourced for our 2012 Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir. Not as massive as the Petaluma Gap, it is still a pure, mouth-filling wine. Classic flavors of cherry, raspberry, tea and spice leaves no doubt that this is a Pinot, but the velvety textures set it apart.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 94 Drink: 2017 – 2032
A more tightly coiled wine with more bouquet garni, roasted meat, blackcurrant and raspberry notes, is the 2012 Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain (100% Calera clone). Rich, intense and ageworthy, it could turn out to be as brilliant as any of its siblings, but it requires several years of bottle age, and should drink well for 10-15 years thereafter.
Wine Spectator November 15th, 2014
James Laube 91
Shows more tension, tannins and structure than the other Bevans, yet shares an affinity for smoky-toasty oak, licorice, graphite and pure plum and berry flavors that are intense and persistent. Should benefit from bottle time. Drink now through 2022. 310 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Sunchase
Sunchase, one of the Sonoma Mountain vineyards that we used for the Sonoma Mountain Pinot, also gave us four barrels of free run juice from the 667 and 777 clones to make a 100 cases of 2012 Sunchase Pinot Noir. These four exceptionally beautiful barrels earned the right to be blended together. Light on its feet, but still serious, this wine shows more of the rose petal and strawberry flavor profile. Elegant and refined, this Pinot Noir is pure sophistication.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 92 Drink: 2014 – 2025
Oddly, the 2012 Pinot Noir Sunchase Vineyard did not impress me as much as the Elevation 1376 from the same site. Nevertheless, this is still outstanding Pinot Noir that I would be happy to drink anytime. Its deep ruby/plum color is followed by notes of cola, blackcurrants, black cherries, earth, spice and a touch of oak. The wine possesses outstanding ripeness, soft tannins and an ethereal quality. Drink this beauty over the next 6-10 years. It is remarkable that Russell Bevan can exhibit such a fine touch with Pinot Noir, a completely different and more fragile, easily bruised grape to deal with compared to his brilliant efforts with Bordeaux varietals. More than anyone else, Bevan credits Greg LaFollette with teaching him now to make great Pinot Noirs.
2012 Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir, Summit 2114’
At the very top of Sonoma Mountain we get the fruit for our 2012 Summit 2114 Pinot Noir from two vineyards that provide our only non-Dijon clone Pinot Noirs. Here we get the Calera, Swan and Pommard 4 clones. Unlike the pure fruit flavors from our other sites, these clones reveal meaty, hearty flavors. Almost all the farming and winemaking decisions for these vineyards ensure that we tame the brawny, mountain tannins that these sites produce. Full-bodied and round, it is a compelling wine that loves to show you a different profile each time you bring it to your lips.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 96 Drink: 2014 – 2029
Another prodigious effort, the dense purple-colored 2012 Pinot Noir Summit 2114, from a vineyard called Pfendler, is a mix of Dijon clones 667, 115, 777 and 828, and was aged in a combination of Gamba and Remond barrels. It boasts ethereal aromatics of spring flowers, forest floor, raspberries, blueberries and Asian spices. Full-bodied with superb purity, texture and depth, this stunning, world-class Pinot Noir will drink well for 10-15 years.
Wine Spectator November 15th, 2014
James Laube 93
Plump and generous, with a gorgeous mix of red and black fruit, plum, cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors shaded by smoky oak nuances. Ends with tannins that keep the elements fresh, lively and grounded. Drink now through 2021. 275 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Moaveni Vineyard Syrah, Bennett Valley
There is so much Syrah being made today that I just don’t want to drink. I had a deep urge for Bevan Cellars to put together a wine that is meaty, fruit-driven and full of peppery goodness. Did we do that? Yes. More importantly, was it massive and sexy? Yep. Huge, dark and deep, this is what I think California Syrah should be.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #216 Dec 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 93 Drink: 2014 – 2025
I also tasted one Syrah from this estate. The 2012 Syrah Moaveni Vineyard (only 100 cases produced) was aged in a combination of Gamba and François Frères oak. Full-bodied, with notes of black olives, tapenade, asphalt, smoky barbecue, blackberries and bouquet garni, it reveals beautiful purity, sweet tannin and long, heady finish. Drink it over the next 10+ years.
2012 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wildfoote Vineyard “Vixen Block”
(referred to as 6110 by Robert Parker) The WildfooteBlock is a seductress. Intense and polished, with lovely aromatics, this is a singular, unique wine. As our first wine from Stag’s Leap, It captures what makes the hillsides there so special.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 96 Drink: 2014 – 2035
From the Stags Leap AVA, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote (previously called Vineyard 6110) is another wine of great intensity, full-bodied power, a stunning, elegant perfume of blue, red and black fruits, loamy soil, forest floor and spring flowers, and a lavish, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish. This exquisite wine should be on everyone’s bucket list. This cuvée was aged in equal parts Taransaud and Darnajou wood. Drink it over the next 20+ years.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2015
James Laube 97
A remarkably seductive effort, delightfully creamy and chocolaty, plush and layered, with a firm, rich, potent core of dense, earth-laced currant and blackberry flavors. Firm cedary oak is evident, gliding along gracefully on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 200 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Tin Box
It is larger than the 2011, with the character of classic Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit just pops, unleashing a wall of power and concentration.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 96 Drink: 2014 – 2035
Aged in Taransaud (75%) and Darnajou (25%) oak, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box is more backward than the perfect 2011 was last year, but it reveals similar decadence, opulence and velvety texture. Its opaque blue/black/purple color is followed by a stunning perfume of white chocolate, spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, and an unctuous, massive mouthfeel. It should age effortlessly for two decades or more.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2015
James Laube 90
Just the right amount of ripe, juicy blackberry and licorice gives this wine vitality and enough suppleness midpalate on to push past the tannins, which turn cedary and gravelly. Drink now through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 265 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, McGah Vineyard , Rutherford
We were blessed to get one acre of Rutherford Bench fruit from the McGah Vineyard, which is just a quarter of a mile from Tin Box in Oakville. Texturally, it fits perfectly with the Tin Box, and the purity of fruit resembles the Wildfoote. This wine will age and develop style and grace, but right now it is rambunctious and has the energy of a two-year-old. It has the verve and soul of great Cabernet Sauvignon.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct. 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 100 Drink: 2014 – 2035
The perfect 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah comes from a Rutherford parcel owned by the McGah family. Virtually all Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 75% Taransaud and 25% Gamba wood, it boasts off-the-charts richness as well as an inky/purple color and notes of graphite, spring flowers, blackberries, blueberries, cassis, licorice and forest floor. This incredibly fruity, full-bodied, voluptuously textured wine can be consumed now and over the next two decades or more.
2012 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, “EE” Oakville
Explosive fruit jumps from the nose of this wine. More exotic and fruit forward than any EE since the 2008. The 2010 was powerful, the 2011 was polished, and the 2012 is just pure pleasure. Beyond being fun to drink, it is so exuberant it almost makes me giggle! EE developed more in barrel than any wine we made in 2012. It exceeds more than I ever expected last September, when I poured it for Robert Parker. <i>His note: “The 2012 EE is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It displays nearly overwhelming levels of creme de cassis, incense, charcoal and licorice as well as a long, full-bodied, exceptionally pure, layered
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209 Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. (95-97)
The 2012 EE is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It displays nearly overwhelming levels of creme de cassis, incense, charcoal and licorice as well as a long, full-bodied, exceptionally pure, layered mouthfeel. This is a sensational wine.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31st, 2015
James Laube 95
Amazingly rich and soulful, with tiers of juicy, plush blackberry, pomegranate and wild berry at the core, showing subtle touches of cedar, toasty oak, graphite, licorice, berry jam and spice. For all the centered density and concentration there’s a captivating measure of grace and finesse here. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2017 through 2030. 275 cases made. –JL
2012 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Ontogeny, Napa Valley
The 2012 Ontogeny reminds me of the 2008 more than any other vintage. It is a massive wine that aromatically comes at you in waves. It starts with blueberry and plums, but then cocoa and spice reveal themselves. With your first sip you know it is a serious wine. The acidity starts the attack, but then the long smooth tannins caress your palate. It will age beautifully, but it wants to play already. As it lingers on the palate, it shows a suppleness that such large wines rarely have. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot, which gives it an amazing minerality on the finish.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #215 Oct 2014
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 99 Drink: 2014 – 2029
The nearly perfect 2012 Proprietary Red Ontogeny is Bevan’s least expensive and biggest production cuvée (700 cases). A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it comes from four of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Tench, Tin Box, Two Dogs and Sugarloaf Mountain. A big fruit bomb, it boasts a dense purple color as well as loads of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, underbrush, graphite, lavender, roasted meats and blackberries. Amazing aromatics and super-intensity make for a powerful, full-bodied wine to drink over the next 10-15 years.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2015
James Laube Score 94
Features tremendous density, range and depth of flavor, built around cedar- and tobacco-laced blackberry and currant notes. Tightens on the finish and gains a dusty herb and loamy earth edge, which gives the tannins a drying edge, showing traction and definition. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 800 cases made. –JL
2011 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Kick Ranch
The 2011 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Robin’s Cuvée, much like its namesake, is almost impossible to ignore. It has rich textures for a Sauvignon Blanc, but as we expect from the Kick Ranch Vineyard, it has crisp, refreshing acidity. Aromatically, you instantly get hit with peach and pineapple, but they are supported by a strong citrus core. This vintage also has a noticeable minerality that expresses itself on both the flavor profile and texturally. The finish is long and rewarding, but instead of being linear it has considerable and depth.
2011 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, “Curmudgeon”
The most-requested wine of the past two vintages has been The Curmudgeon. In 2011, the classic Curmudgeon blend of 66.7% Cabernet Franc and 33.3% Cabernet Sauvignon sings. This wine has a nose that speaks of ripe Cabernet Franc, beginning with violets and red fruits, followed by tobacco and hints of mocha. The palate has an expansive middle, and then the long, silky tannins take over, giving the wine both a long flavor and textural finish.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 97 Drink: 2013 – 2023
From two Oakville vineyards, Tin Box and Tench, the 2011 Curmudgeon is a blend of 66.67% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. Its opaque purple color is followed by soaring aromas of spring flowers, pen ink, espresso roast, white chocolate, black currants and mulberries. This deep, full-bodied, seamlessly constructed wine reveals perfectly integrated wood, tannin, alcohol and acidity. An amazing effort, it is already delicious, complex and outrageous. Drink it over the next decade.
2011 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red, De Crescenzo / Tench, “The Impetus”
The Impetus. It all started when Victoria decided to sell our house and buy a funky mid-century home on the side of a mountain. With the prodding of some friends we planted our two-acre vineyard and Bevan Cellars was born. This wine, featuring our home vineyard, has a wow quality to it. Pure, intense blackberry and cherry lead the charge, backed up by spice box and espresso bean. Truly powerful, but never hard.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 90
This is a prodigious effort! The 2011 Proprietary Red The Impetus, a blend of Oakville and Bennett Valley Cabernet Franc and Merlot (a Cheval Blanc look-alike?), it appears more reserved than Bevan Cellars’ other offerings, perhaps because of the Bennett Valley fruit component. An outstanding effort, it exhibits attractive dusty, loamy soil notes intermixed with forest floor, black currants and a touch of wood as well as a full-bodied, rich, concentrated palate. The tannins then kick in and the wine shuts down ever so slightly. I suspect this was just a more restrained effort in the company of potential legends and candidates for the wine of the vintage.
2011 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Tin Box Vineyard, Oakville
Tin Box. We made this 95% Cabernet Sauvignon blend from an old Oakville Hillside vineyard that is being pulled out after this year’s harvest. It has a blueberry quality that I associate with stunning vintages like ’94, ’02 and ’05. These old vines, planted on steep, deep red soils, gave us 60 cases of magic in 2011. The fruit pop is amazing and stays with you for over a minute. You need to taste it to believe it.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95
Meriting a three digit score, the 2011 Tin Box is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot from a hillside vineyard. It boasts a vivid perfume of acacia flowers and blueberry liqueur that bursts from the glass with vibrant purity as well as intensity. A magnificent red wine with unreal richness, full-bodied unctuosity, low acidity, and velvety tannins, this 2011 (aged in 100% new French oak) reveals few wood notes, and because of the vintage characteristics, can be drunk now or cellared for another 10-15 years.
2011 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red, Sugarloaf Mountain, Napa Valley
This Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend is always one of my favorite wines. Round, plush and velvety, this wine showcases the textural qualities I love. Revealing a marriage of dark chocolate and floral aromatics, this wine has layers and depth that will continue to develop and unfold over time.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95 Drink: 2013 – 2021
The 2011 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain is an intriguing blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot. Notes of tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, graphite, forest floor, plums, violets, espresso, black cherries and black currants jump from the glass of this deep, full-bodied, opulent wine. It is nearly impossible to believe it came from the 2011 vintage. However, it is precocious and evolved, so consume it over the next 7-8 years.
2011 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red, Tench Vineyard, Oakville “EE”
As always, this is our largest, most powerful wine. It attacks you in waves. The Cabernet Sauvignon core brings vibrant red fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry, while the Cabernet Franc adds phenolic weight in the back of the mouth. This vintage incorporates Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tench Vineyard in Oakville, which has crazy, red rocky soils. The Cabernet Franc comes from a tiny two-acre block that is a hundred yards from our beloved Showket vineyard. These great sites produce a wine that has a loud, strong voice. The aromas grab your attention and the textures beg you to come back for more. Like the man we named this wine after, it is impossible to ignore.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 98 Drink: 2013 – 2028
The 2011 EE, which also comes from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards, is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits lots of graphite, charcoal embers, a Pessac-Leognan-like smoky barbecue character, black currant liqueur, licorice and a touch of chocolate. Huge, massive, rich fruit oozes across the palate, but there is a refinement and delicacy to it that is almost impossible to believe in view of this wine’s size. Apparently, this Cuvée comes from the rich, red soils on the hillsides of Oakville below the well-known Showket Vineyard. This spectacular 2011 should drink well for 10-15 years.
2011 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Ontogeny, Napa Valley
Ontogeny is the odd child in our lineup this vintage. Its amazing aromatic profile is unlike any of its siblings, striking your olfactory senses with a meaty, peppery blast. The powerful textures remind me of the ’09 Ontogeny, but the acidity keeps the tannins in balance and gives the wine a harmonious quality. The 2011 features more Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon than previous years and holds up superbly to the standard set by those wines.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 93+ Drink: 2013 – 2023
One of the least expensive wines in this portfolio is the 2011 Ontogeny, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Bevan calls this the oddity or contrarian in his line-up of wines, probably because of the high percentage of Petit Verdot in the blend. More earthy than some of its siblings, with less exuberant and boisterous fruit, it is another over-sized, opaque purple-colored wine with lots of roasted meat, bouquet garni and charcuterie notes backed up by plenty of power, blackberry and cassis characteristics. The striking aromatics are followed by a wonderfully lush, velvety wine to drink over the next 7-10 years.
50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc, it is dense and lively. More vibrant than the ’08 and more concentrated than the ’09, it is a perfect candidate for the cellar where it will develop for years. On release it will be a wave of fruit, tobacco and mocha, but in a couple of years it should be full of complexity and power.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 95 Drink: 2015 – 2025
The 2010 Red Wine EE is gorgeous. Freshly cut flowers, cassis, menthol, licorice and black cherries burst from the glass. All the elements are nicely balanced in this delicious, totally beautiful wine. Hints of cloves, roasted coffee beans, menthol, and graphite add complexity on a distinctly Cabernet Franc-laced finish. The 2010 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
2010 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 94+ Drink: 2015 – 2025
A huge, voluptuous wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Patricia’s Cuvee Harbison Vineyard bursts onto the palate with massive layers of blue and black fruit, cinnamon, cloves, graphite and melted road tar. This is an unusually ripe, voluptuous and totally seamless wine for the year, but the opulent style works beautifully here. The Patricia’s Cuvee is going be a pure pleasure bomb pretty much from the outset. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
2010 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red, Sugarloaf Mountain “Oscar”
Our 2010 Proprietary Red Wine, is a freak show of a wine. The initial impression is one of power and grace. It’s massive and complex, but with a little air it gains a refinement that few large scaled wines ever have. The Cabernet Franc gives it a floral quality, but with time the espresso bean and vanilla scents grow and grow. The color is almost black. For the last two vintages our Proprietary Reds (Danger D and The Whitney) have been our most re-ordered wines, and I know that this year will be no exception.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 95 Drink: 2015 – 2025
The 2010 Proprietary Red Oscar Sugar Loaf Mountain is notably sweeter, richer and more powerful than the Impetus, Bevan’s other Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend. Chocolate, sweet spices, cloves, black berries and plums all jump from the glass in this full-bodied wine. The 2010 is full-throttle, intense and unapologetically opulent, but it all works, and beautifully. I expect the 2010 to give years of sheer pleasure once it recovers from its current slightly shut down stage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
2010 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red, De Crescenzo / Tench, “The Impetus”
The Impetus, which is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The Merlot comes from the Tench Vineyard in Oakville and the Cabernet Franc from our own estate vineyard. In barrel the Tench Merlot was super chocolaty and seductive. Our Estate Cabernet Franc was all about floral aromatics and silky tannins. The resulting wine gives you the impression that you are nibbling on some Valhrona chocolate while surrounded by fresh flowers.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 94+ Drink: 2015 – 2025
Bevan’s 2010 The Impetus is another beautiful wine. A blend of De Crescenzo Cabernet Franc and Tench Merlot, the 2010 is quite distinctive, particularly in its mineral-driven personality, much of which comes from the Sonoma fruit. Cool, bracing veins of acidity lend tension and energy to hints of graphite, crushed rocks and tobacco, all of which add complexity on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
2010 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Ontogeny, Napa Valley
This wine has taken on a life of it’s own and in 2010, we used more Cabernet Sauvignon then ever to make sure that the final blend had the dark fruit flavors that has made Ontogeny so special in past vintages. We ended up with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot. It has an amazing fruit impression on the palate and a plush finish. To ensure that the 2010 Ontogeny could stand toe to toe with its siblings we used a considerable amount of our Harbison Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is so precious, but the wine shines because of it.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 91 Drink: 2014 – 2012
The 2010 Ontogeny is one of the more compact wines in this lineup. It has good depth and presence but not the personality or silkiness of the best wines here. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers and menthol add complexity on the finish. In this vintage the Ontogeny is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.
A two-thirds Cabernet Franc and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon blend. If you liked the Double E last year, or if you love Cabernet Franc, this wine should speak to you. It has an amazing sweet fruit middle that comes from the Cabernet Sauvignon, and then the Franc takes over and floral aromatics pull you into the glass. Much like my mentor for whom it is named, this wine will improve with time, but it is already a pleasure to be around. 75 cases.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #204 Dec 2012
Antonio Galloni 94 Drink: 2014 – 2024
Bevan’s last wine from the former Showket vineyard in Oakville, the 2009 Curmudgeon is totally beguiling from start to finish. Sweet, red cherries, smoke, licorice, new leather, tobacco and graphite are all woven together in a fabric of notable class. The 2009 boasts gorgeous complexity, highly expressive fruit and tons of personality. I loved it. Curmudgeon is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc from Showket, which was subsequently purchased by Peter Michael. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Russell Bevan is one of the more outspoken producers in Napa Valley, and so are his wines. These sumptuous, beautifully textured reds are full of personality. Made to be accessible right upon release, the Bevan wines are rich, intense and hugely delicious. Russell Bevan is one of the growing number of producers using high amounts of Cabernet Franc in some of his wines, and I have to say, the results are striking.
Wine Spectator Issue October 15, 2012
James Laube 96
A stunning effort, fabulously rich and elegant, pure and focused, with plush dark fruit, mocha and melted black licorice, but most impressive on the finish, where the flavors run deep and persistent. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028. 75 cases made. –JL
2009 Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain “The Whitney”
A new vineyard source for our Proprietary Red Wine, Sugar Loaf Mountain. This year’s version, named “The Whitney”, for one of my dream girls, is at first glance a sexy kitten. Half Merlot, for a decadent texture and kiss of coco, and half Cabernet Franc to make it as serious and intriguing as its namesake. This is Victoria’s favorite wine of the vintage, hands down. 100 cases.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2012
James Laube 95
A gorgeous effort that offers pure, complex aromas of cassis, kirsch, melted black licorice, spice, cedar and tobacco, all well-distributed, gaining momentum and ending with a long, persistent, layered finish. Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2022. 100 cases made. –JL
2009 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “Bab’s Cuvée”
This year’s Cabernet Sauvignon, “Bab’s Cuvée”, is a tad more serious than the 2008, which was beautiful and elegant right out of the box. Still very appealing, it’s just more intense. The alcohol level is the same, but it is a bigger wine, with more extraction and weight, making it similar to our 2007. Rich, with pure fruit, it is possibly our most food-friendly wine yet. 242 cases.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #198 Dec 2011
Antonio Galloni 93 Drink: 2014 – 2024
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bab’s Cuvee Showket Vineyard shows quite a bit more freshness than the Julie’s Cuvee. Dark red fruit, mineral flowers and spices flow effortlessly from this focused, vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon. The intensity of the fruit flows through beautifully to the fleshy, expressive finish. Bab’s Cuvee is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 7) aged in 100% new French oak barrels, 60% Darnajou and 40% Taransaud, a different mix of coopers than Bevan uses for Julie’s Cuvee, which is also clone 7 Cabernet from Showket Vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Russell Bevan exudes energy and exuberance, both of which come through in spades in his fruit-forward, showy wines. Bevan likes to name wines after people who have been instrumental to his success. While that is certainly admirable, it isn’t always easy to following the progression of his wines for what are essentially the same cuvees with different names, depending on the year.
Wine Spectator Issue October 15, 2012
James laube 93
A muscular expression of Cabernet, deep and chewy, with ripe plum, blackberry, wild berry and floral scents. Tight, focused and tannic. Best to cellar or give a long decant. Best from 2014 through 2028. 275 cases made. –JL
2009 Bevan Cellars Proprietary Red “EE”
What were we supposed to do to follow-up the “Double E”? Every critic rated it at 97 points or higher. This year’s blend, simply called “EE”, combines 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc. It has more acidity, giving it even more electricity and verve. It will appreciate a year in the cellar, as it is so concentrated. The core is blackberry and cherry, plus the Cabernet Franc gives it a kiss of Cuban tobacco and a floral hint that I just love. 275 cases.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #198 Dec 2011
Antonio Galloni 91 Drink: 2013 – 2017
The 2009 Red Wine EE Cuvee Showket Vineyard flows onto the palate with sweet roses, spices, flowers, all of which come together in a forward, juicy style meant to be enjoyed over the next few years. Floral notes round out the textured finish. This is another soft, totally inviting wine from Russell Bevan. The EE Cuvee is 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2017.
2009 Ontogeny Red Wine
Again the goal was to build on strength. That said, let me be honest, last year at this time, the “Double E” and Ontogeny were so aggravating to me. In barrel, prior to bottling, they were amazing. Then, two months after bottling, they were all angles and edges. I almost didn’t give them to Robert Parker to review. That is not the case with this year’s Ontogeny. It is seductive and immediately appealing, with a deep round core and a finish that sails on. Like last year, it is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, plus a bit of sexy Merlot and some Petite Verdot for minerality. It is super dark and gushes from the glass. 635 Cases
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #198 Dec 2011
Antonio Galloni 93 Drink: 2012 – 2019
The 2009 Ontogeny is a rich, radiant wine endowed with expressive layers of dark red fruit, flowers and licorice. It shows gorgeous fleshiness and juice in an up-front, approachable style that is very appealing. There is more than enough structure for this to drink well for a number of years. In 2009 the blend is 45% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
Russell Bevan exudes energy and exuberance, both of which come through in spades in his fruit-forward, showy wines. Bevan likes to name wines after people who have been instrumental to his success. While that is certainly admirable, it isn’t always easy to following the progression of his wines for what are essentially the same cuvees with different names, depending on the year.
More than any wine we have crafted, David’s Cuvée shows the pure fruit essence of Cabernet Sauvignon. As you pour the wine into a glass it reveals the vibrant aroma of crushed blue berries and cherries. As the first wave of fruit starts to subside, hints of spice and mocha build and draw you in. The lavish textures showcase the vineyard’s amazing natural acidity. This rich, generous wine keeps expanding, yet remains lively and never becomes heavy. Of the 40-plus wines which have been produced from Showket Vineyard, this is the Cabernet Sauvignon that defines it.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95 Drink: 2010 – 2030
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Showket Vineyard David’s Cuvee offers pure notes of cedarwood, spice box, creme de cassis, licorice and blueberries. The explosive finish and overall quality of this wine reminds me of some of the Schrader-Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignons made by Thomas Brown. This wine should have at least 20 years of potential.
2008 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Showket Vineyard, Oakville “Danger D Cuvée”
This specially-blended wine simply demanded that it be made. Every time we worked on our blends, the combination of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc created such a unique and hedonistic concoction that we felt compelled to share it with you. Merging our favorite barrel of Cabernet Franc with our best barrel of Merlot has produced a wine that showcases the best of both varietals, playing the plush velvety textures of the Merlot against the weight and intensity of the Franc. Less intense than the Red Wine Double EE Cuvée, the decadent Danger D Cuvée massages the palate and displays compelling aromatics of mocha, plum, and cigar box.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 96 Drink: 2010 – 2025
Limited production offerings that are worth noting include the 2008 Danger D Proprietary Red Showket Vineyard. Made from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it reveals a subtle smoky note intermixed with abundant creme de cassis, black cherry, white chocolate and tobacco leaf aromas offered in a fragrant, opulent, voluptuously textured style. There is virtually nothing to dislike in this full-bodied, powerful yet harmonious wine that cascades over the palate without a hard edge. This is just brilliant winemaking and terrific fruit sources. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
2008 Bevan Cellars Merlot, Showket Vineyard, “Alexis’s Cuvée
Here we go! Invite your friends over and start pouring. We have yet to present a glass of this wine to a person without eliciting a “Wow.” Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. And we’re not talking about milk chocolate, we’re talking deep dark chocolate, the kind you’d pair with a raspberry reduction sauce. With all the round, supple, sexy textures you could want from a Merlot, it conveys pure pleasure and yet remains a serious wine.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 93 Drink: 2010 – 2022
The 2008 Merlot Showket Vineyard Alexis’s Cuvee offers a great introduction to how good Merlot can be. Aromas of chocolate, black currants, black cherries and forest floor jump from the glass of this fleshy, opaque ruby/purple-colored Merlot. Deep, chewy and succulent, it is both a hedonistic and intellectual thrill-a-sip. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
2008 Bevan Cellars Syrah, Greywacke Vineyard, “Tonifiant”
Wine Spectator Web 2011
James Laube 89
Firm, dense and detailed, offering dried berry, mineral, cedar, camphor and peppery-spicy scents. Full-bodied and focused, with a long persistent and tannic finish. Best from 2012 through 2020. 145 cases made. –JL
2008 Bevan Cellars Syrah, De Crescenzo Vineyard, Bennett Valley “Richard Frahm Cuvée”
How this wine came from our Estate Vineyard will always confound me. Our beautiful hillside, with gentle slopes and rolling hills has created a beast. Unlike our Merlot, you won’t just pour this wine for people and watch them smile, you’ll warn them. You’ll want to put the kids to bed and then prepare your palate to be assaulted. In a good way, if you’re interested in something a bit off the beaten path. This wine, with flavors of roasted meat and freshly made espresso, tinged with a strong mineral edge, starts off big and only gets bigger.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 94 Drink: 2012 – 2027
Bevan produces Syrah. The 2008 Syrah Richard’s Cuvee DeCrescenzo Vineyard is from the Bennett Valley, not Napa, but it is very Northern Rhone-like in its notes of smoky barbecue, roasted meats, bacon fat, and cassis as well as its layered, full-bodied mouthfeel. With plenty of tannin in the back, it seems to me this wine could benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring. It’s a gorgeous Syrah that should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
2008 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, “Double E”
This year’s Red Wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose immediately presents an intoxicating blend of violets and cassis, complemented by hints of tobacco and spice. On the palate, this rich, sumptuous wine features the pure fruit of the Cabernet Sauvignon amplified by the depth and power of the Cabernet Franc. Highly extracted, it carries its weight gracefully and will easily be the most age-worthy wine we have made.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 98
Another wine from the Showket Vineyard, and a proprietary blend at that, is the 2008 Double-E, an equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ths wine borders on perfection, but don’t get too excited, there’s not a lot of it. Extraordinary notes of blueberries, acacia flowers, tobacco leaf, cassis, licorice, and crushed rocks all soar from the glass of this inky purple wine. Fabulous concentration, full-bodied texture and ethereal intensity without heaviness make for a provocative and compellingly great wine from Russell Bevan. The finish goes on for a good 45+ seconds. This is graceful, stunning wine that caught me by total surprise in its greatness.
Wine Spectator Issue October 15, 2011
James Laube 97
An extraordinary wine, gorgeous from start to finish. Offers captivating character of ripe dark fruits, currant, blackberry, kirsch, mocha, cedar, graphite, tar and more. Full-blown, beautifully structured, pure and persistent, sailing along gracefully, with a tremendous aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025. 202 cases made. –JL
2008 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Oakville, “Ontogeny”
Ontogeny, which refers to the growth of a single-celled entity into a multi-celled being, represents the next step in Bevan Cellars’ evolution. We created this new label as a separate brand from Bevan specifically to feature new fruit sources and to craft distinctive blends that speak to our love of fruit-driven wines. The inaugural vintage is a showy wine which starts with a blast of cherry and boysenberry wrapped in layers of vanilla and mocha. Bold and direct on the palate, a kiss of Merlot gives it a rich, round mid-palate. As the wine builds, it flexes its tannic backbone, which comes compliments of a little Cabernet Franc. Finally, the Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage, offering generous waves of fruit and enough complexity to make this a complete, satisfying wine.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 97 Drink: 2010 – 2020
The stunning 2008 Ontogeny Proprietary Red (a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) boasts an opaque purple color along with notes of kirsch, blueberries, boysenberries, mocha and subtle smoke. Expansive on the palate as well as opulent and fleshy with tremendous fruit, depth and richness, there is some tannin lurking in the background, but it is largely concealed by the luxurious fruit component. Already showy and complex, this stunning red can be drunk over the next decade. One of the major fruit sources for Bevan has been the Showket Vineyard in Napa, which was recently sold to Peter Michael.
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2012
James Laube Score 93
Rich and generous, with layers of dark berry, mocha, spice and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and concentrated, with a long, persistent, mouthcoating finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2020. 486 cases made. –JL
A combination of black cherry, roasted meats and white pepper. With decanting it picks up hints of mocha and evolves for hours. The most striking thing about this wine is its richness and how fruit driven it is at an amazingly low alcohol level, 13.3%. We did a 38% saignée (or bleed) for this wine to get the desired level of concentration. The result was a magnification of the fruits natural flavors and acidity. Again we pushed things at the winery, pressing the must to the barrel while the wine was still very sweet. We did this to avoid over extraction from the huge tannin load because we had such a high ratio of skins and seeds to juice. This wine shows amazing balance and will age for a very long time.
2007 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Showket Vineyard, Oakville “Mae’s Cuvée”
Our 2007 Bevan Cellars Showket Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is an example of why Oakville is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon. Every time we taste this wine we are struck by its purity of fruit. Aromatically it displays an array of dark fruits that grow in the glass, and in the mouth it has a focused core of fruit. The Showket Vineyard’s extreme conditions force the vines to produce small clusters and small berries that give great natural acidity, which in turn allows us to push the level of extraction at the winery. While this is a massive wine, it is actually very light on its feet and never comes across as ponderous or overly extracted. Instead it speaks to why Cabernet Sauvignon has long been considered the King of all red grapes.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95+ Drink: 2014 – 2044
Also enormously impressive, but more backward and in need of bottle age is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Showket Vineyard. This opaque purple-hued Cabernet exhibits classic notes of creosote, creme de cassis, licorice, and cedar. It is a relatively massive wine (as one expects from these hillsides that also produce the superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Francs from the Dalla Valle winery). This deep, broad, enormous 2007 needs to be forgotten for 5-6 years, and drunk over the following three decades. These are very impressive efforts!
Wine Spectator Issue May 31, 2010
James Laube 96
A profound effort, dense, rich and concentrated, pleasantly earthy and complex, with dried currant, sage, plum, wild berry and melted chocolate woven together. Gains depth and nuance, offering a pleasing measure of finesse. Drink now through 2020. 275 cases made. –JL
2007 Bevan Cellars Red Wine, Showket Vineyard, Oakville
The 2007 Bevan Cellars Showket Vineyard Red Wine is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. Ever since I started working with the Showket Vineyard, the Cabernet Franc has captivated me, and this wine shows why. The nose is dominated by the Cabernet Franc’s expressive combination of violets, black berry and spice. Then the palate gives way to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The initial impression is about how rich and powerful the wine is, and then it builds in waves. This wine is very persistent, and continues to gain weight as the long finish takes over and shows the depth of the blends individual components with nuances of cocoa, cassis and rich tobacco.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95 Drink: 2009 – 2024
The 2007 Showket Vineyard Red Wine is from an Oakville hillside site that was just sold to the Peter Michael Winery. (Let’s hope proprietor Russell Bevan will continue to be able to access fruit from this site.) It is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc along with 10% Merlot, is a beauty. Aromas of flowers, blue and black fruits, wood smoke, and spice box are offered up in a lavishly persistent and intense aromatic display. Opaque purple-colored, deep, and full-bodied with terrific fruit, purity, and density, this outstanding wine should drink well for 10-15+ years.
2007 Bevan Cellars Merlot, Showket Vineyard “Kal’s Cuvée”
Our 2007 Bevan Cellars Showket Vineyard Merlot is a wine that was never to be, until my mom put her foot down. Sadly, there are only 62 cases of it. I always thought that, unless it was grown in a small little section of Bordeaux, Merlot should be used as a blending grape to enhance other varietals. This wine is all about chocolate: on the nose, in the mouth, on the finish. We aged it in 100% Darnajou barrels, which magnified the varietals natural cocoa qualities. The resulting wine is plush and velvety with no hard edges, but is massive and has an extreme level of silky glycerin. It is truly a tribute to hedonism.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 95 Drink: 2009 – 2024
The 2007 Showket Vineyard Red Wine is from an Oakville hillside site that was just sold to the Peter Michael Winery. (Let’s hope proprietor Russell Bevan will continue to be able to access fruit from this site.) It is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc along with 10% Merlot, is a beauty. Aromas of flowers, blue and black fruits, wood smoke, and spice box are offered up in a lavishly persistent and intense aromatic display. Opaque purple-colored, deep, and full-bodied with terrific fruit, purity, and density, this outstanding wine should drink well for 10-15+ years.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #180 Dec 2008
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 90+ Drink: 2008 – 2018
More structured and concentrated, but not as charming at present is the 2006 Syrah Drystack Vineyard Porter’s Cuvee. It does not yet reveal the complexity of the 2005, but of course, it has not been in bottle as long. A dense purple color is accompanied by a bouquet of creosote, pepper, broodingly backward black fruits, and a structured, full-bodied, muscular mouthfeel. Give this 2006 several years of bottle age, and drink it over the following decade.
Impressive wines are being fashioned by up and coming winemaker/producer Russell Bevan.
2005 Bevan Cellars Syrah Drystack Vineyard
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #180 Dec 2008
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 91 Drink: 2008 – 2016
The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Syrah Drystack Vineyard reveals plenty of juicy black fruits interwoven with notions of bacon fat, damp earth, pepper, and coffee. This round, full-bodied, rich, impressively endowed Syrah has no hard edges. It should drink well for 7-8 years.
Impressive wines are being fashioned by up and coming winemaker/producer Russell Bevan.
Wine Spectator Web 2008
James Laube 91
Offers jazzy oak—spicy, toasty and smoky—yet the fruit pours through, offering a mix of rich wild berry, mineral, herb, tar and tealike flavors that are deep and concentrated. Best from 2009 through 2015. 96 cases made. –JL
2005 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Showket Vineyard
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #180 Dec 2008
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 93 Drink: 2008 – 2023
The gorgeous 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Showket Vineyard exhibits classic notes of creme de cassis, licorice, cedarwood, and tobacco leaf along with full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin, and excellent harmony and equilibrium (a characteristic of many 2005 Napa Cabernets). The wine reveals a European-like restraint, but the ripeness and purity of Napa fruit is on display.The price is somewhat hair-raising, but … it’s Napa Valley. This wine should drink nicely for 15+ years.
Impressive wines are being fashioned by up and coming winemaker/producer Russell Bevan.
Wine Spectator Issue July 31, 2008
James Laube 93
Aromas of ripe black cherry, plum and raspberry are pure, rich and concentrated, and this is mouthcoating, intense and persistent. Shows a trace of heat, but the tannins are firm and integrated, boding well for short-term cellaring. Best from 2010 through 2016. 125 cases made. –JL